Cincinnati Air Quality in Winter
Across 2019–2025, Cincinnati's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 56 (Moderate) over 632 monitored days in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN area. 0.3% of winter days (2 of 632) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 94.1% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2022 (median AQI 55, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 57, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 107).
- Good: 30.1%
- Moderate: 69.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Cincinnati Homes
Air quality in Cincinnati is moderate (AQI 65), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
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How is the air in Cincinnati in winter?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56 across 2019–2025, with 0.3% of winter days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓30.1% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 69.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓2 days of 632 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 107.
- ✓Cleanest month: January; worst month: February.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Cincinnati in winter?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Cincinnati in winter was 56 (Moderate). 30.1% of days were Good, 69.6% Moderate, and 0.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 632 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is winter a good time for outdoor exercise in Cincinnati?▾
A typical winter day in Cincinnati is Moderate (median AQI 56): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Cincinnati's winter air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 94.1% of winter days in Cincinnati. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 107 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2021.
Cincinnati winter air quality, year by year
Cincinnati winter air quality by year (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 90 | 58 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 56 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
| 2021worst | 90 | 57 | 1 | 107 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 90 | 55 | 0 | 98 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 90 | 56 | 0 | 94 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 54 | 1 | 103 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 90 | 56 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
What winter air means in Cincinnati
A typical winter day in Cincinnati is Moderate (median AQI 56): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Winter's median AQI of 56 is in line with Cincinnati's whole-year median of 56, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Cincinnati runs above the national Winter norm; 0.3% of its Winter days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, January is the cleanest month (median AQI 55, 0.0% of days above 100) and February the worst (median 57, 1.0% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Cincinnati
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Cincinnati's AQI at 65 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Cincinnati air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN), 2019–2025. Daily AQI per CBSA is the highest AQI reported by any monitor in the area that day; the defining parameter is the pollutant that set it. Month and season statistics pool every such day in the period across all years listed. Retrieved 2026-09-09.